15-year-old girl apparently found dead in Lowell apartment, prosecutor says

Authorities in Massachusetts said Saturday they are investigating an apparent homicide in Lowell where a 15-year-old girl was found dead in an apartment building with numerous gunshot wounds. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said Lowell police received a 911 call just after 6 p.m. Friday from a family member of the victim who found the girl’s body in an apartment on Lowell Street. The family member also told police she saw the body had serious injuries. Lowell Police Chief Greg Hudon said when officers arrived at the scene they found the 15-year-old victim with apparent gunshot wounds. Hudon said officers also found several shell casings. “This is a shock,” Lowell resident Michele Bragel said. “This has to be a shock to the family, the whole community. It’s the only thing they’re talking about.” The victim was identified by her family members to Ahliana Dickey. “She’s my oldest granddaughter and I don’t know how we’re going to go on without her,” said Ahliana’s grandmother, Tracy Smith. “She was a child.” Investigators were granted a search warrant for the home later Friday night. Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said Saturday afternoon that the investigation is very intense. Authorities have not stated whether or not the violence was random, nor have they released information about a possible suspect or suspects. The investigation into the apparent murder is being handled by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Lowell Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit, which is assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

LOWELL, Massachusetts —

Authorities in Massachusetts said Saturday they are investigating a suspected homicide in Lowell, where a 15-year-old girl was found dead in a residence with numerous gunshot wounds.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said Lowell police received a 911 call from a family member of the victim just after 6 p.m. Friday. The family member said they found the girl’s body in an apartment on Lowell Street. The family member also told police she saw the body had serious injuries.

Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon said when officers arrived at the scene, they saw the 15-year-old victim had apparent gunshot wounds. Hudon said officers also found several shell casings.

“This is a shock,” said Lowell resident Michele Bragel. “It must be a shock to the family and the whole community. It’s all they talk about.”

The victim was identified by her family members to Ahliana Dickey.

“She’s my oldest granddaughter and I don’t know how we’re going to go on without her,” said Ahliana’s grandmother, Tracy Smith. “She was a child.”

Courtesy of the family

Investigators received a search warrant for the apartment on Friday evening. Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said Saturday afternoon that the investigation was very intensive.

Authorities have not stated whether the violence was random, nor have they released any information about a possible suspect or suspects.

The investigation into the apparent murder is being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Lowell Police Department and the Massachusetts Division of Criminal Investigation, which is under the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.